Trampoline with shielded perimeter

ABSTRACT

A trampoline includes added safety by virtue of extending the jumping mat to stretch out over the springs coupling the mat to the supporting frame. Fasteners such as V-rings may be attached to an underside of the mat&#39;s perimeter which is extended out to the supporting frame. The mat be coupled to the frame by connecting the springs between the frame and the fasteners. With the fasteners being on the underside of the mat, the springs remain covered while the mat is secured to the frame. Users may thus be prevented from accidently having one of their appendages fall in between adjacent springs between bounces which prevents certain injuries.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Related Application

None.

Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to sporting equipment, and more particularly, to a trampoline with a shielded perimeter.

Description of Prior Art and Related Information

Trampolines are a popular device for exercise. Many trampolines include a central jumping area attached to a surrounding frame by springs. The springs are generally spaced around the perimeter to connect the jumping mat to the surrounding frame. The use of a trampoline generally involves jumping and flipping all around the mat area. In many cases, the user jump toward or rebound near the edges of the mat into the spring area. Unfortunately, many time the user may inadvertently land with an appendage such as fingers, a hand, foot or other body part slipping in between two adjacent springs. Some springs have sharp components which can cut the appendage. In some cases, when the appendage slips in between the springs in one orientation, the user is in the process of rebounding off the mat and the appendage has changed orientation getting caught between the springs causing injury.

Some conventional approaches to trampoline safety use a vertical safety net inside the circumference of the jumping mat segregating the jumping area from the spring section. However, this approach reduces the play area size. Other approaches use a safety pad that is positioned over the edge of the frame but comes as a separate accessory to the trampoline with additional cost. Safety pads are generally separable from the rest of the trampoline. Some pads are simply temporarily laid over the springs. These tend to fall off sometimes even during use of the trampoline. Some pads made to be manually stretched over the edge of the trampoline frame and over the springs. These can be cumbersome to attach. As a result, many trampoline owners simply forgo use of a safety pad because the work involved detracts from the time and fun of using a trampoline.

As can be seen, there is a need to improve on the safety of a trampoline system without adding work to the user's operation of the trampoline.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, a trampoline is disclosed which comprises a support frame and a plurality of coiled springs coupled to a perimeter of the support frame. A flexible fabric mat includes a plurality of fasteners attached to an underside of the flexible fabric mat. The plurality of fasteners may be positioned proximate a perimeter edge of the flexible fabric mat. A first end of the plurality of coiled springs are coupled to the support frame and a second end of the coiled springs are attached to the plurality of fasteners attached to the underside of the flexible fabric mat. The flexible fabric mat is stretched out to the support frame and covers the plurality of coiled springs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a trampoline in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partial, expanded, top perspective view of the circle 2 shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is the partial, expanded, top perspective view of the circle 2 shown in FIG. 1 with a section of a mat lifted to expose springs shielded by the mat in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description wherein illustrated embodiments are described. It is to be expressly understood that the illustrated embodiments are set forth as examples and not by way of limitations on the invention as ultimately defined in the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology may be practiced. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the subject technology. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject technology may be practiced without these specific details. Like or similar components are labeled with identical element numbers for ease of understanding.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a trampoline 100 is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. In general, the trampoline 100 improves upon safety experienced by the user when engaging in trampoline based activity. As described above, conventional trampolines typically leave the springs connecting the mat to the frame uncovered, which presents a danger for users. Users' fingers, hands, feet, or other appendages may slip in between springs when jumping, flipping, etc. The appendages may get stuck or may engage a sharp spring piece that may injure the user when rebounding from the mat. Aspects of the trampoline 100 cooperate to shield the user from springs and the exposed areas between springs.

In an exemplary embodiment, the trampoline 100 includes a frame 105 and a flexible fabric mat 110 stretched out to the frame 105. The mat 110 is the element of the device onto which a user jumps around on in the trampoline 100. The frame 105 includes vertical posts 115 supporting a horizontal bar 160 (sometimes referred to as a top rail) (FIGS. 2 and 3) between the posts 115. In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible fabric mat 110 includes an outer perimeter section 140 that covers a spring section 120 and extends the mat 110 to just short of the horizontal bar 160 (FIG. 2). The spring section 120 includes a plurality of coiled springs 150 coupling the flexible fabric mat 110 to the horizontal bar 160. Some embodiments include a skirt 130 (which may be for example, PVC) draping over the edge of the horizontal bar 160 to aesthetically cover the spring section 120 from view. The skirt section 130 may be affixed (for example, by stitching) to the outer perimeter section 140 or may be a separable accessory (connected temporarily for example by hook and loop systems, snap buttons, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 3, the flexible fabric mat 110 may include a plurality of fasteners 170 (for example, V-rings) attached to the underside of the mat 110 (opposite the jumping upper side surface) and positioned inward from the edge of the mat 110. The section 140 may be a permanent portion of the mat 110. or may be a separable piece attached to the mat 110 by fasteners (not shown) including for example hook and loop systems, buttons, snaps, etc. in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. However, it will be understood that in some embodiments, the mat 110 may extend onto or over the edge of the horizontal bar 160.

When the mat 110 is connected to the frame 105, one end of each spring 150 may be connected to the horizontal bar 160 while the other end of each spring 150 may be connected to one of the fasteners 170. The mat section 140 covers the springs 150 while the mat 110 is secured to the horizontal bar 160 of frame 105, thus shielding the open areas in between springs 150 from accidental exposure to appendages or other user body parts during use of the trampoline 100. As will be appreciated, the mat 110 including section 140 is configured for permanent coverage of the springs 150 protecting the user without adding work to the user's experience.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of examples and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different ones of the disclosed elements.

The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification the generic structure, material or acts of which they represent a single species.

The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to not only include the combination of elements which are literally set forth. In this sense, it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what incorporates the essential idea of the invention.

Terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “above,” “below” and the like as used in this disclosure should be understood as referring to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather than to the ordinary gravitational frame of reference. Thus, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a rear surface may extend upwardly, downwardly, diagonally, or horizontally in a gravitational frame of reference. Similarly, an item disposed above another item may be located above or below the other item along a vertical, horizontal or diagonal direction; and an item disposed below another item may be located below or above the other item along a vertical, horizontal or diagonal direction.

A phrase such as an “aspect” does not imply that such aspect is essential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. An aspect may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A phrase such as an “embodiment” does not imply that such embodiment is essential to the subject technology or that such embodiment applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. An embodiment may provide one or more examples. A phrase such an embodiment may refer to one or more embodiments and vice versa. A phrase such as a “configuration” does not imply that such configuration is essential to the subject technology or that such configuration applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to a configuration may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A configuration may provide one or more examples. A phrase such a configuration may refer to one or more configurations and vice versa.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example or illustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs.

All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.” Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A trampoline, comprising: a support frame; a plurality of coiled springs coupled to and along a perimeter of the support frame; a flexible fabric mat; a plurality of fasteners attached to an underside of the flexible fabric mat, the plurality of fasteners positioned proximate a perimeter edge of the flexible fabric mat, wherein: a first end of the plurality of coiled springs are coupled to the support frame, a second end of the plurality of coiled springs are attached to the plurality of fasteners attached to the underside of the flexible fabric mat, and the flexible fabric mat is stretched out to the support frame and covering the plurality of coiled springs.
 2. The trampoline of claim 1, further comprising a section of flexible fabric strip separable and attachable to the perimeter of the flexible fabric mat, wherein the flexible fabric strip covers the plurality of coiled springs when attached to the flexible fabric mat.
 3. The trampoline of claim 1, wherein the flexible fabric mat comprises a polypropylene material. 